Andrew Wiggins kept it simple today when asked how people in the organization support the team: “It’s always love.”
Likewise I’ve always tried to steer our followers towards a similar way of rooting for the squad. After all, the brand does read, “Let’s go Warriors.” This literally dates back to the Summer of 2013 when I was the only local beatwriter to travel to China and cover the Golden State Warriors on a daily basis out there.
I wrote this on our YouTube community page today when the video for Wiggins was uploaded:
DEAR SUBSCRIBERS: My challenge to you today is to leave a comment of positivity for Wiggs. It’s so easy to complain and throw him or any other coach/player under the bus; that’s vanilla/average/boring/emo/negative. Show me your ELITE skills! Dig deep, find that light and cheer for your squad and every member of the team. Be the 18th man! #WeBelieve 👍👍💛💙 (full video from morning shootaround is clickable below👇)
Hope to see you and our usual YouTube community of positivity on the live chat commentary tonight on the channel!
WIGGINS
1:48, 3 • Key to getting back to where you were before ASB? “Just find my rhythm again. It’s been there. Games, I’ve been aggressive. Sometimes shots aren’t falling. That’s part of the game. You know what happens. I just gotta keep my head, keep pushing forward and stay confident.”
• Mentally challenging? “It’s tough not seeing your shot go in…it’s part of it. I’m doing my part. I’m in the gym working hard. I know eventually they’ll fall. They’ll fall at the right time.” 🚨
• Leaning on getting through adversity in Minnesota? “Nah. I’m older now. I know it’s the NBA. There’s gonna be ups and downs. That’s part of the journey. That’s part of the grind. There’s a bigger picture. We got a team full of great guys, great players. And we have a chance to do something special. I just gotta keep putting in the work. My time will come. My shot will fall at the right time and I truly believe that.”
0:31 • Do you pay attention to what’s being said on social media, analysts and people who were saying good things and no longer doing that? “Nah. They’re gonna love you then they’re gonna hate you, then they’re gonna love you again, then they’ll probably hate you again. That’s just how it goes. You just gotta wake up every morning just happy to be alive. It’s like there’s bigger things to worry about.”
1:14, 2 • Draymond: “He was out for a long time…when he’s out there his presence is felt. Every game as he gets his rhythm back, he’ it’s gonna keep getting better and better for everybody.”
• Draymond being critical of himself: “He keeps it honest…what he says is for everybody to get better and grow. You can’t say something about someone else if you can’t about yourself too. He’sa leader and he believes that. From there, we grow.” 🚨
0:40 • What’s the team’s mentality? “We believe we’re still that team. Even with that little funk there we were in, we’re still third in the West. We believe we’re still the best team especially when everyone’s healthy and that’s what we’re going towards. Tonight’s gonna be a big game…but we’re believe we can beat anybody.” 🚨
0:33 • How helpful has Jama been, fellow Toronto guy? “…great motivator, great friend, great coach. He helps ease everybody…”
1:10 • Has Steph being out affected your rhythm? “Steph not being out there is definitely a game changer. 🚨 It kinda changed the way that we play a bit. But I wouldn’t say that’s the reason. I feel like I’m still getting a lot of — not the same shots but similar shots. Obviously no one can replace Steph, the attention he causes on the court but I feel like I’ve still gotten great looks. Put the ball up, it just hasn’t been going my way. But that’s glow the game goes.”
1:46, 2 • Using the last few games to bridge to the playoffs and how difficult the playoffs are: “…wanting to be in a good groove…end the season in a good note. And from my experience I had one series against Houston. The playoffs is different. The game kinda slows down a bit. It’s more physical. They let you play. Every possession matters. Every little thing matters, very detailed.”
• Have vets been saying what the playoffs are like yet? “You hear stuff on the court or when we’re watching film. They might point out something little, something small, that might have a big effect or change the way a playoff series is, the outcome of a playoff series.”
0:32 • Supportive environment? “Yeah it’s usually always love especially within the organization it’s always love. People just push you and want you to get better and want to see you win and succeed.”
👍👍💛💙